The benefits of this entirely natural gelling agent have been recognized by the Japanese since the dawn of time. Today, it is increasingly popular for its extraordinary gelling and thickening properties, which add amazing texture to a vast range of dishes. Unlike gelatin, agar agar contains no animal product, and is entirely vegetarian.

Agar agar can also play a powerful role in helping you to keep slim and lose weight.

Jams, jellies, blancmanges, sauces, terrines, imaginative nibbles, and dishes created using molecular gastronomy anything is possible with agar agar. There is only one golden rule: agar agar dissolves at 85°C and resets when its temperature falls below 40°C. All you have to do is add a little boiling water to the agar agar, and you are ready to go!

Agar agar can also be used as part of a slimming or weight loss program, since it helps to 'fill you up' for longer, reducing the temptation to snack.

1. Dissolve a little sugar in some water, heat gently and add the rum.

2. Soak each sponge finger in the sugar and rum syrup, and line the cake tin with the soaked fingers.

3. Melt the chocolate in a basin suspended over a saucepan of hot water, or bain marie.

4. Whip the cream until stiff

5. Heat 45cl of milk

6. Beat together the egg yolks and the caster sugar until well combined

7. Pour the heated milk onto the egg and sugar mix, beating well as you do so

8. Return the egg mixture to the heat and stir gently for a few minutes

9. Add the melted chocolate, stirring well to combine

10. Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside

11. In a separate saucepan of at least 1 litre capacity, dissolve the agar agar in the remaining 15ml milk, and bring to the boil, stirring all the time

12. Off the heat, mix the agar agar solution, the chocolate mixture and the whipped cream together

13. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before serving

Agar agar as part of a weight loss program

Journalist Anne Dufour recommends this simple way to use agar agar to help you feel full for longer: mix 1g of agar agar into a cup of your favourite hot drink (tea, coffee, herbal tea, broth, soup), stir well and drink whilst still very hot. Drunk 10 to 20 minutes before a meal, this is a quick and very effective way of reducing hunger and moderating how much you eat.